Longtime Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone is retiring from the program she led for 27 seasons, the school announced Tuesday.
Stone’s retirement comes amid an external review of the program following articles in The Athletic and the Boston Globe that included allegations of mistreatment and misconduct toward players by Stone as well as claims of hazing within the program. The university hired law firm Jenner & Block to conduct the review in March.
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Harvard’s announcement Tuesday did not mention the status of the review, but a school spokesperson confirmed the investigation was complete. Asked if the findings would be made public, the spokesperson said: “When we release anything, I’ll let you know.”
Stone, 57, said in a news release that “the decision to retire from any profession is never an easy decision.”
The March story in The Athletic detailed a culture in which players were routinely pitted against each other, subjected to hazing and initiation rituals that involved forced alcohol consumption and sexualized skits and traditions, including an annual event that dates back decades called “naked skate.” In some of those years, freshmen were told to do a “Superman” slide on the ice that left some with ice burns and bleeding nipples. The most recent “naked skate” occurred the day following the publication of the Globe story. After one player became upset about the event, Stone and her staff met with the team and told them it was an unsanctioned activity.
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Additional allegations against the program included Stone being accused of downplaying injuries and mental health issues, leading derogatory chants directed at players and creating a climate where players were pitted against each other to curry favor with her. One parent of a player from a recent season, in describing how she perceived Stone ran the program, said it was “a mental-health Hunger Games.”
Jenner & Block, the same law firm that investigated the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021 for allegations the organization mishandled sexual assault claims within the organization, began contacting current and former players in March.
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Associate head coach Lee-J Mirasolo left the program in early May to take a head-coaching position at Stonehill College. Mirasolo took a leave of absence from the Harvard program in late March. Jade Arnone, a prominent freshman defender for the team this past season, transferred to Boston College.
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A search for a new women’s hockey coach will begin immediately, according to Harvard. In a letter to Harvard hockey alumni obtained by The Athletic, athletic director Erin McDermott encouraged recommendations for any potential candidates the school should consider.
“Hiring head coaches is one of the most important responsibilities that I hold given the impact on student-athlete experience,” McDermott wrote. “I look forward to the process and am confident that we will hire an excellent coach.”
Stone has more wins than any other female coach in collegiate women’s hockey history. The Crimson appeared in 12 NCAA regionals, six Frozen Fours, and four national title games, as well as nine Ivy League championships.
“For coaches, stepping down from the bench, leaving the program you have poured your heart and soul into for this many years, is especially hard,” Stone said. “I believe a coach knows in their heart when it is time for change and I look forward to supporting the next chapter in Harvard women’s hockey. I am grateful to my coaching colleagues and administrators who have supported my journey. Thank you to my players and alumni for sharing your lives with me.”
(Photo: Barry Chin / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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